What is Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)?
Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) is a cybersecurity architecture that combines network and security functions, such as secure web gateways, firewalls, cloud access security brokers (CASBs), and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), into a single, cloud-delivered service model. SASE enables organizations to securely connect users, devices, and applications across distributed environments without relying on traditional perimeter-based infrastructure.
Coined by Gartner, SASE is designed to support modern enterprises with cloud-first strategies, enabling secure access from any location while enforcing consistent security policies at the edge.Why is Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) Important?
The shift to hybrid work, cloud applications, and distributed users has rendered traditional perimeter security models obsolete. Users are no longer just inside a corporate network, they’re everywhere. SASE addresses this challenge by delivering network security as a cloud-native service, reducing complexity and enabling organizations to enforce zero trust access policies globally.
SASE simplifies security architecture by consolidating multiple point solutions into a unified platform that scales with business needs. It supports remote workforces, branch office connectivity, and mobile users by applying security policies at the network edge, closer to where users and applications reside.
However, while SASE is effective in enterprise IT environments, it often falls short in critical infrastructure and OT scenarios. These environments demand protocol-level access, support for air-gapped systems, and non-cloud-dependent architectures, capabilities that SASE platforms typically do not provide.
How Does Xona Help with Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)?
Xona complements SASE architectures by extending secure, zero trust access into operational technology (OT) environments where traditional SASE platforms can’t reach. While SASE is optimized for cloud apps and SaaS platforms, Xona is purpose-built for ICS, CPS, SCADA, and air-gapped industrial systems that require protocol-specific access (RDP, VNC, SSH, WEB) and hardened security.
Rather than routing traffic through cloud-based security stacks, Xona provides on-premise or cloud-deployable gateways that enforce protocol isolation, credential injection, and session-level control. This allows organizations to secure remote desktop, vendor, and third-party access to critical systems with the same zero trust principles as SASE, without the risks of network exposure or performance bottlenecks.For organizations already implementing SASE, Xona fills the OT access gap, offering secure, compliant access to industrial environments that must remain operationally and physically isolated from traditional IT networks.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is SASE different from traditional perimeter-based network security models?
SASE replaces perimeter-based security by delivering network and security functions as cloud-native services, enabling consistent policy enforcement regardless of user location or device.
What are the core components of a typical SASE architecture?
SASE architectures typically include secure web gateways (SWG), cloud access security brokers (CASB), firewall-as-a-service (FWaaS), Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), and software-defined wide area networking (SD-WAN), all delivered through the cloud.
Why is SASE often insufficient for operational technology (OT) environments?
Can SASE be used to manage access for third-party vendors?
How does Xona integrate with or complement existing SASE deployments?
Is SASE compatible with zero trust security principles?
SASE is built on zero trust principles, using identity, context, and policy to determine access permissions rather than relying on network location or perimeter boundaries.
